I have been interested in birth figures in recession years. Several states like Texas, California, Florida have seen a significant drop in births in the first 11 months of last year compared to the two previous years. Why?

Some states, like Colorado, saw a measurable jump in marriages from November 2007-January 2008 to November 2008-January 2009. Nevada, Michigan, South Carolina, Tennessee and Illinois saw marriages drop in the first 11 months of last year compared to the two previous years. Why?

Many states recorded fewer divorces in the first 11 months of 2009. The CDC stats show divorces dropping in New York, Maryland and Massachusetts. Sometimes, people put off divorces in recessions because they can't afford the break-up.

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AUTHOR INFORMATION

Al Tompkins is one of America's most requested broadcast journalism and multimedia teachers and coaches. After nearly 30 years working as a reporter, photojournalist, producer, investigative reporter, head of special investigations and News Director, Tompkins joined the Poynter Institute where he is Senior Faculty for Broadcast and Online. He is the author of "Aim for the Heart" a textbook about multimedia storytelling that has been adopted by more than 100 universities worldwide. He has taught in 49 states, Canada, Egypt, Denmark, South Africa, Iceland and the Caymans.
Tompkins is the recipient of some of journalism's highest awards including The National Emmy, the Japan Prize, The American Bar Association's Silver Gavel, The Peabody (group award), 7 National Headliner Awards, The Robert F. Kennedy Award and The Iris Award. He was inducted into the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame and honored with The Governor's Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
Tompkins helped to author the national codes of ethics for both the National Press Photographers Association and the Radio and Television Digital News Association.